The House voted 242-183 Thursday morning to "pause" the process for refugees coming from Iraq and Syria, a vote showing Republican fear and xenophobia. No Democrats voted with Republicans, a show of solidarity with their President and just good sense.
The legislation creates more hoops for refugees to jump through. Hoops that are unnecessary given the multiple hurdles they are already required to clear. It would "require the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Intelligence Agency to certify that each Syrian and Iraqi refugee admitted to the U.S. poses no threat to the country."
But the legislation has earned a veto threat from the White House. The Office of Management and Budget said in a statement that the legislation would create "unnecessary and impractical requirements that would unacceptably hamper our efforts to assist some of the most vulnerable people in the world, many of whom are victims of terrorism."
It's uncertain whether the Senate will take up this bill when Congress returns after next week's Thanksgiving break.
Thursday, Nov 19, 2015 · 4:52:56 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Spoke too soon. That was the rule on what they’re calling the SAFE Act, H.R. 4038 - American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015. The debate on the final bill is happening right now. Apologies for the premature celebration.